This is the third disbursement in 2021. As part of the operations on 30 March, Czechia has received €1 billion, Belgium €2.2 billion, Spain €4.06 billion, Ireland €2.47 billion, Italy €1.87 billion and Poland €1.4 billion. This is the first time that Ireland has received funding under the instrument. These loans will assist Member States in addressing sudden increases in public expenditure to preserve employment. Specifically, they will help Member States cover the costs directly related to the financing of national short-time work schemes, and other similar measures that they have put in place as a response to the coronavirus pandemic, including for the self-employed. The disbursements follow the issuance of the sixth social bond under the EU SURE instrument, which attracted considerable interest among investors. So far, 17 EU Member States have received a total of €75.5 billion under the SURE instrument in back-to-back loans. An overview of the amounts disbursed to date and the different maturities of the bonds is available online here.